Military tank



F. s. WRONA MILITARY TANK May 11L 1943 Filed Sept. 18, 1940 3Sheets-Sheet l A tiomey may 111', W43. s. WRONA 2,33%,11?

MILITARY TANK Filed Sept. 18, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A tiorney M H, 1943F s, WRONA mnwm MILITARY TANK Fi led Sept. 18, 1940 s Sheet-Sheet sInventor fray/r w 7027a.

Patented May 11, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MILITARY TANK Frank S.Wrona, Aurora, Ill. Application September 18, 1940, Serial No. 357.311

1 Claim.

This invention relates to military tanks, and has for the primary objectthe provision of a device of this character wherein the bodyconstruction thereof will more readily turn or deflect bullets, shrapneland the like and thereby be less liable to puncture and consequentlyprovide for better protection to the solders therein and is also soconstructed that it may be thoroughly ventilated to permit smoke andgases to escape and may be easily and quickly closed in case of anencounter with flame throwers or deadly gas devices.

Another object of this invention is to improve the traction thereof onthe ground and to afford maximum protection to the soldiers whenoperating the guns therein.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1is a top plan view illustrating a military tank constructed inaccordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation illustrating the device.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the interiorconstruction of the device.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the interiorconstruction of the device.

Figure 5 is a front elevation illustrating the device.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the device andespecially the ventilating means therefor.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating shield plates foraffording protection to the gunners while operating machine guns orsimilar firearms from the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates the body ofthe military tank and 6 the mobile or traction means thereof which is ofthe caterpillar type, the tread plates being preferably cupped, as shownat I, to increase their traction upon the ground.

The body 5 is substantially cylindrical shaped having the front endthereof pointed, as shown at 8, while the rear end is rounded, asindicated by the character 9. This shape of the body will more readilydeflect bullets, shrapnel or the like striking the same and render thebody less liable 55 to puncture. The walls of the body are constructedof heavy armor plates suitably welded or otherwise secured together. Thewalls of the body are supported by frame members I 0 of I beamconstruction to provide the necessary strength or rigidity to the body.A subflooring I I is arranged in the body for the support of firearmstherein. The type of firearms employed within the body can be varied.However, it is preferable that guns, as indicated at E2, of an extremelylarge caliber be mounted in the front end with the barrels thereofprotruding through openings I3 provided in the body. The openings l3also provide vision openings so that the steering or driving of thedevice can be easily carried out from within.

It may be desirable to arrange the large caliber guns within separatecompartments, as shown at M, with the compartments closed to the maincompartment by doors l5.

The smaller caliber guns, such as machine guns, indicated generally bythe character [6 are operable from within the body and are fired throughopenings I! provided in opposite walls of the body. The openings I! haveslidably mounted therein shield or guard plates 18, the adjacent edgesof which are notched to permit the barrels of the guns 16 to protrudetherethrough.

Weights H! are connected to the plates l8 by cables 20 which pass overpulleys for the purpose of maintaining the plates in engagement witheach other and which will permit the plates to slide when the gun barrelis swung laterally or horizontally. The notches in the adjacent edges ofthe plates permit the gun barrels to be moved vertically for a limiteddistance.

Doorways 2| are provided in opposite sides of the body and are closed bydoors 22 arranged to swing outwardly of the body and are secured inclosed position by bolts 23 extending through apertured brackets 24 onthe doors and having turned thereon nuts 25. The nuts are shaped toprovide hand grips so that they can be easily rotated in eitherdirection for securing the doors closed or for freeing the doors.

The body in the upper portion thereof is provided with a series of ventopenings 26 which can be opened and closed by shield plates 21 eachhaving secured thereto a depending arm 28. The vent openings 26 arearranged in rows and journaled in the body between the rows of ventopenings is an operating shaft 29 to which are secured arms 30 and 3|.Links 32 are pivotally connected to the arms 30 and to the dependingarms 28 of one row of the closure elements 21 while the arms 3| havepivoted thereto links 33 which are in turn pivoted to the depending arms28 of the other row of closure elements. By rotating the shaft 29 in onedirection all of the closure elements may be swung into an open positionfor the purpose of ventilating the interior of the body and to allowsmoke, gases and the like to escape from the body. A rotation of theshaft in a reverse direction simultaneously closes all of the closureelements which is desirable in case the device encounters flame throwersand similar war devices.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction,combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In an armored tank of the character described, a body having in the topthereof parallel rows of ventilating openings, vertically swingableclosure plates for said openings, an operating shaft rotatably mountedin said body intermediate said rows of openings, bearing means forsupporting said shaft in said body, arms depending from the closureplates at their hinged edges, arms projecting radially from the shaft inopposite directions, and links pivotally connecting the arms of theplates with the arms of the shaft for simultaneously moving all of saidplates to either opened or closed position, optionally.

. FRANK S. WRONA.

